New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-23
NAPHTUA BURST A BUILDING.
THREE VICTIMS OF A BIG EXPLOSION
THE WHOLE FRONT WALL BLOWN TO AToMs-sCf-
POSED SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION.

THE WHOLE FRONT WALL BLOWN TO AToMs-sCf-
POSED SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION.
An explosion at the United Gas Improvement
Company's works in SiXth-st, Jersey City. a few
minutes after noon yesterday wrecked small
brick building. injured two men and a boy ami
caused great excitement in the ncighborhocd for
a short time The building III which the cN-
plosion occurred adjoincd the main building ard
was used as Office. Joseph Rusby, age eight
cen. clerk and Charles Machold were IN the
Office few minutes after 2, when slight eA-
plosion occurred apparently under the hoor.
Machold started to 20 down stairs to invest gate.
but Rusby advised him to wait few minutes as
there might bc another explosion. Machold said
he thought not and had taken two or three steps
toward the door leading TO the cellar when a
terrific explosion occurred which seemed to lift
the building from its foundations.
The floor was lifted up toward the ceiling, the
front wall was blown out, and the side wall next
the gangway was hurled a distance Of three or
four feet. The remaining walls stood firm and
sustained the roof thus preventing a complete
collapse Of the building. Rusby and MachOld had
n miraculous escape from instant death. Neither
Of them has any definite idea of what happened.
They know that they heard the noise of the cA-
plosion felt the cOncussOn. and the next moment
they were being bombardcd with flying bricks and
timbcrs. Machold's right arm dslOcated AT
the shoulder, and he was badly bruised about the
head and body. His eyebrows and hair were
scorchcd by a momcntary flash Of flame which
followed the explosion. Rusby was cut in the
face and bruised boy named John Ryan, age
twelve, was not so fortunate. lie lives IN llo-
bokcn and was on his way to the abattor with
dinner for his father who is sheep butcher As
he was passing the building the second explosion
occurred and he was knocked down and buried
under the bricks which moment before had com
posed the front wall.
Policeman Tcrwilligcr aided by willing hands,
soon dug the lad out from under the ruins, ana ne
was found to be alive but seriously injured. Ills
head and face were cut in several places ana there
were bruises on every part Of his body lie was
taken in an ambulance to the City Hospital where
IL was found that in addition to his eAterhai III
iurics he was suffering from shock. Inc phy
sicians have some hope OF his recovery IL he J.
not injured internally. An alarm from DON %
brought the iircmen and policemen to the scene
The services Of the firemcn not required but
the police remained in the neiehborhood Tor some
time, keeping back the crowd "hlch p"''N'S
gathered in large numbers - l.
The cause of the explosion has not beer de-
tcrmined but il is supposed TO have Occurreu III
an old pipe which was formerly used Tor connect
ing a naptha tank with gasometcr III the once M
which registered the quantity Of naptha USED. Inc
pipe passed under the office tloor but mas no,
been in use FOR some time Nheh !, w'N a,iI ~ w.
i, leaked and the ground under 1t was hoaNIH
saturated with naptha. II Is supposed that thc
heat in the office and from the steam connexions
volatilazcd the naptha and produced luau,fiA l 9 =.
or gos under the office floor. As there was no hrr
or flame near it. the explosion is believed to h"y'
resulted from spontaneous combustion. An III.
yestirntion will be made to determine 'h' 'N"''